John Vincent Saykanic specializes in motion and appellate practice, in both federal and state courts. Mr. Saykanic received his bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with honors, and his law degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans.  Mr. Saykanic graduated from law school and passed the bar in 1984.

     Mr. Saykanic served a clerkship in Passaic County, NJ with criminal judge the Honorable Bruno Leopizzi. After clerking, Mr. Saykanic opened his own practice, specializing in criminal appeals and motions. In 1986, less than two years out of law school, Mr. Saykanic began working with Miles Feinstein, Esq., with whom he still shares a law office.  Mr. Saykanic was the Passaic Municipal Prosecutor from 1991 to 1994.

     Mr. Saykanic's first case with Mr. Feinstein was the trial of the alleged "New Jersey Lucchese organized crime family" held in federal court in Newark from November of 1986 to August of 1988. United States v. Accetturo, is the longest federal trial in United States history, and resulted in not guilty verdicts on each count for all 21 defendants. A book, The Boys From New Jersey , was written by Robert Rudolph. Mr. Saykanic and Mr.  Feinstein also represented Nicodemo Scarfo, the alleged organized crime boss of the Philadelphia-Atlantic City area.

     Mr. Saykanic has successfully handled several high profile criminal cases. In the "Doctor Doktor" homicide case, Lawrence Simmons was convicted in 1977 of participating in the homicide of Doctor David Doktor, a Paterson physician. Mr. Simmons always maintained his innocence. In 1995 the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reversed Mr. Simmons' murder conviction.  After two retrials resulted in hung juries, in June of 2000, the State Appellate Division ordered the homicide indictment dismissed.

     In 1991, Mr Saykanic successfully represented Omar Shabazz, convicted of felony-murder with a sentence of life plus 23 to 32 years. The Honorable Benjamin J. Cohen, J.S.C., granted Mr. Shabazz's release.  Mr. Shabazz is now Program Director of the "Prisoners Resource Center" of the "American Friends Service Committee" Criminal Justice Program.

     Mr. Saykanic also handled the appeal for one of the "Glen Ridge Case" defendants, and successfully represented Edward Forchion, a/k/a the "New Jersey Weedman. "

For additional cases, go to the Case History section.